Trim table

ABSTRACT

A trim table for use by trimming and/or cutting of food products, such as chicken or fish, has conveyors ( 2, 12 ) for feeding products to a number of operator stands (O 1  . . . O 8 ), each of which receivers ( 14, 24 R,  28 R) for receiving products ( 10 ), a cutting table ( 16, 24 C,  28 C) for trimming and/or cutting the products ( 10 ) into product pieces ( 10   a,    10   b ) and sorters ( 6, 20 ), and further, transport of the cut or trimmed products ( 10   a,    10   b ). One or more of the operator stands (O 1  . . . O 8 ) are provided with mechanisms ( 18, 24, 28 ) for automatic transferal of the products ( 10 ) from the receivers ( 14, 24 R,  28 R) onto the cutting table ( 16, 24 C,  28 C). By a trim table, the products are brought to the operator, so that the operator is spared from having to repeatedly lift products as has necessary in the past. As a result, the operator&#39;s working position is significantly improved, just as the work place at the trim table according to the invention is also improved ergonomically.

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim table for use by trimmingand/or cutting of food products, such as chicken or fish, comprisingconveying means for feeding products to a number of operator stands,each of which comprising means for receiving products, a cutting tablefor trimming and/or cutting the products into product pieces and meansfor sorting and further transport of the cut or trimmed products.

[0002] Within the food processing industry it is common to arrange atrim table of the above-mentioned kind after a filleting machine orother process equipment for preliminary partition of meat products.After this, the meat products, in particular fish or chicken productsare trimmed and cut into product pieces at the trim table.

[0003] The trim table comprises a first conveyor with a number ofoperator stands at each side of the conveyor, and a second conveyor foronward transport of the cut product pieces. An operator can order aportion of products for trimming, which is supplied on the aboveconveyor. In front of the operator, an arm is swung out across theconveyor and directs a product portion to the magazine of the operatorstand. From this magazine, the operator takes one or more products atthe time down to the cutting table for trimming and product cutting.After the trimming and cutting, the operator sorts the individualproducts after the product quality, size and/or type, just as thecut-away waste remains are disposed of. Each of the cut product piecesare led out through one of the arranged sorting chutes, which arearranged in connection with the cutting table and the outletconveyor(s).

[0004] In connection with the inlet of the first conveyor of the trimtable means may be arranged for automatic in-weighing of the productportions, just as a weighing out of the cut product pieces may beperformed in connection with the second conveyor. Finally, a qualitycontrol operation may be arranged in connection with the out-weighing.With these weighing data a surveillance of the quantity and the qualityof the trimming operations at the trim table may be carried out.

[0005] This type of trim table is known from the production of fish andchicken products. The process may be adapted to potentially particulardemands to the handling of a given type of products, e.g. a particularlycareful handling in connection with the conveying of the productportions to the operators magazine.

[0006] From FR-A-2 689 374, a device with an operator stand is known inrelation to a trim table, where the incoming products arrive in atransport container which is emptied into a magazine container, which isplaced between an upper conveyor for onward transport of finished cutproducts and a lower conveyor for removal of waste. From the container,the operator must lift the products down to the cutting plate fortrimming or cutting out the products. This lifting operation involves anextraordinary inconvenient, unergonomically working position, since theoperator has to bend across the cutting plate in order to get to theproducts in the magazine.

[0007] By the magazine, the operator must repeatedly lift the productsfrom the magazine down to the cutting table, which results in a badergonomical working position with monotone movement that are oftenrepeated. This is unhealthy for the operator and this working operationmay contribute to a reduction in the working tempo.

[0008] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide animprovement of this relation and provide an improved working positionfor the operators at a trim table within the food processing industry.

[0009] This object is achieved by a trim table of the initiallymentioned kind, where one or more of the operator stands are providedwith means for automatic transferral of the products from the receivingmeans to handling on the cutting table.

[0010] By a trim table according to the invention, the products arebrought to the operator, so that the operator is spared from therepeated lifts that are characteristic for the hitherto known solutions.This means that the operator's working position is significantlyimproved, just as the work place at the trim table according to theinvention is also improved ergonomically.

[0011] In a first embodiment of the invention, the receiving means areconstituted by a tray for receiving and storing a portion of productsand the means for transferral of the products comprise a slidingsurface, which connects the tray with the cutting table. Hereby, aproduct in the portion may easily be guided from the storage tray ontothe cutting table. The tray may be arranged in a level above the cuttingtable and wherein the sliding surface is provided with an inclinationtowards the cutting table. Hereby, the product may easily slide downonto the cutting table, whereby the operator does not have to help byguiding the product by the transferral and without that the product getstuck, e.g. sticks to the tray due to the presence of mucus or anotheradhesive substance.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the tray and/or the sliding surfacemay be provided with vibration means, a push device, and/or a conveyor.Hereby, the products will automatically be aided down towards thecutting table without the risk of being retained. The vibration meansmay either be individually arranged and controlled at each operatorstand or arranged as a common vibration device for a number of trays atmore operator stands.

[0013] In the first embodiment, the sorting means include a number ofsorting openings between the tray and the cutting table forcategorisation of the trimmed product pieces and preferably for dispatchof product remains, said openings being connected with means for furthertransport of the product pieces for further handling and/or dispatch ofthe product remains.

[0014] In a second embodiment, the tray is funnel shaped and providedwith two inclined sliding surfaces, which guide the products down to thebottom of the funnel-shaped tray, said bottom being substantially inlevel with the cutting table. Furthermore, means for collecting anddelivery of the products from the sorting openings to a conveyor arepreferably arranged in association with the sorting openings, said meansfor delivery are controlled according to the achievement of apredetermined sorting pattern on the conveyor. Hereby, a well-organisedtrim table is provided, which provides for an appropriate workflow atthe manual trimming/carving process. By arranging discharge means inconnection with the dispatch of the sorted, cut-out products, theproducts may intermittently be laid out on a common conveyor in a knownorder, whereby the further handling of the products, e.g. in connectionwith weighing and packaging, by be carried out automatically and with ahigh quality.

[0015] Preferably, sorting openings are arranged at at least one side ofthe cutting table for receiving litter and with chutes for the removalof the product remains or the like. Furthermore, an underlying conveyoris provided with a sectioning in longitudinal sections and where thechutes in association with an operator stand are arranged for deliveryof product remains and the like in two different sections. Hereby, theproduct remains, such as waste or other product types, which are nothandled on the present trim table, are sorted with respect to theirfurther destination.

[0016] In a third embodiment, the receiving means are constituted by atray for the receipt and storage of a product portion and the means fortransfer of products comprise means for lowering the tray to the levelof the cutting table. In particular, the means for lowering the tray aremade up of a pivotable side hinging of the tray and a telescopicactuator, such as a pneumatic actuatable cylinder for pivoting the tray,whereby its surface constitutes a sliding surface. This embodiment isparticularly suited to relative large and heavy products where theproducts may be received and transferred to the trimming on the cuttingtable without the operator having to handle the products and therebyexposing himself to risking to distortions or otherwise straininglifting operations.

[0017] In a fourth embodiment, the receiving means and the cutting tableis a rotatable receiving and cutting plate, which has a receivingposition, a cutting position and a sorting position for the products,and wherein the means for transfer comprises rotation means for rotatingthe plate. According to this embodiment, a portion of products may bedelivered to the receiving position of the plate. The plate may then berotated so that the portion is brought to the operator at the cuttingposition. After the trimming and sectioning at the cutting position, thecutting table is turned again so that the cut-out product pieces aremoved to the sorting position for sorting and onwards transport. In thisembodiment of the invention, a relative large cutting table is achievedas parts of the receiving and sorting sections may be used, e.g. bylarge products and/or if the operator for other reasons find itnecessary.

[0018] In this embodiment, the cutting plate may be a substantiallycircular cutting plate, which is rotatably arranged for rotation in thedirection from the receiving position towards the sorting position.Moreover, the sorting means are provided with one or more stationary,essentially tangentially orientated sorting ribs for sorting and furthertransport of the cut/trimmed product pieces for further handling byrotation of the plate. Hereby, the cut-out product pieces must only beplaced in a given radial position on the table and then the sorting andthe discharge of the product pieces for further transport takes placeautomatically, since the sorting ribs “scrapes” the products off theplate.

[0019] In a further variant of this fourth embodiment, the sorting meanscomprise a number of sorting openings between the conveying means andthe cutting plate for sorting the cut/trimmed product pieces, saidopenings being connected to means for further transport of the productpieces for further handling and/or removal of the product remains.Hereby, the operator may himself sort the product pieces in thedifferent product categories by discharging the product pieces into arelevant sorting opening from which the products automatically aretransported onwards.

[0020] In a fifth embodiment of a trim table according to the invention,the receiving means and the cutting table is a shiftable receiving andcutting plate, which is provided with one or more categorisationmarkings for sorting the cut/trimmed products and which cooperates withmeans for further transport of the product pieces for further handling.Hereby, an operator stand is achieved which only takes up a limitedamount of space along the conveyor which in turn means that moreoperator stands along the trim table may be established, whereby thecapacity of the trim table may be increased without increasing theoverall length of the trim table.

[0021] In a particular, preferred variant of this embodiment, theshiftable cutting plate is substantially horizontally orientated in thereceiving, storage and cutting positions and pivoted for dispatching thecut products from the plate in the sorting and emptying position. Thisresults in that an automatic discharge of the cutting plate is achieved,since the cutting plate in the sorting and emptying position functionsas a discharge chute from which the cut-out products slide down to theunderlying outlet conveyor for further transport.

[0022] In this embodiment, two adjacent, shiftable cutting plates arepreferably arranged at each operator stand. This means that a quicktrimming and cutting process may be achieved since a new portion ofproducts may be ordered on one plate, which is then waiting forprocessing while the products on the other plate are being processed.

[0023] The displacement of the cutting plate or plates is preferablycontrolled by operator operated control means, preferably in apredetermined pattern of movement. This means that the operator does nothave to move anything else but the products around on the cutting table,as a control signal is given, e.g. by the operator moving his knife passa sensor for shifting the position of the table.

[0024] In the following, the invention is described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a trim table,

[0026]FIG. 2 is a top view of a section of a trim table with an operatorstand according to the invention,

[0027]FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the same,

[0028]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a secondembodiment of a trim table according to the invention,

[0029]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the same,

[0030]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show details of a third embodiment,

[0031]FIG. 7 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of a trim tableaccording to the invention,

[0032]FIG. 8 is a variation of the fourth embodiment,

[0033]FIG. 9 is a fifth embodiment of a trim table according to theinvention,

[0034]FIG. 10 is a schematic side view for illustration of a preferredvariation of the fifth embodiment of the trim table, and

[0035]FIG. 11 shows the organisation of the product piece on the outletconveyor by a trim table according to the invention.

[0036] In FIG. 1 is shown, a schematic view of a trim table which isintended for trimming and cutting out meat products in the foodprocessing industry, e.g. for use by processing fish or chickenproducts. The trim table comprises a conveyor 2 at each side which anumber of operator stands O1, O2, . . . O8 are arranged, where operatorscarry out a trimming and a cut-out of the products 10 which areforwarded to the operator along a first conveyor 2 in portions. Theportions are weighted in e.g. at a weighing station 4, and the weight ofeach portion is registered in a computer based control system (notshown). After the products are trimmed and cut out into product pieces10 a, 10 b, said pieces are discharged from the trim table on at leastone outlet conveyor 6. The product pieces 10 a, 10 b from each of theoperators are weight out on one or more weighing stations 8 similar tothe first weighing station 4. The weights of each of the portions ofproduct pieces 10 a, 10 b from each of the operators are also registeredin the control system so that a control with the waste percentages,production efficiency, etc. may be kept.

[0037] The trim table functions so that an operator, e.g. by O7, asshown in FIG. 1, orders a portion of products 10, which results in thatan arm 12 is swung across the supply conveyor 2 so that a portion is“swept” into the operator stand (e.g. O7 as shown in FIG. 1).

[0038] In a first embodiment of the invention, the portion of products10 then falls down in a tray 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) where they arebasically retained. From here, the operator may direct one or moreproducts via a chute 18 and down on a cutting table 16 where theproduct(s) is/are trimmed and cut out, e.g. into fillets. The cut-outproducts 10 a, 10 b are classified according to product type and sortedinto one or more sorting openings 20 a . . . 20 d from which the productpieces are fed via a chute or the like and down on an outlet conveyor 6and transported away for further processing. Optionally, further productsorting openings or waste collections 20 e and 20 f may be provided ateach side of the cutting table so that the operator simply has to sweepthe cut-away product remains, such as bones, fat or the like, over theside of the cutting table 16. Alternatively could one or more of thesorting openings 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, 20 d be dedicated for this purpose.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the sliding surface 18 is slopped downtowards the cutting table 16. The tray 14 is also provided with a smallinclination, so that the products can slide down towards the chute 18.In order to aid the product towards the sliding surface 18, the tray maybe provided with vibration means 22 or pushing means (e.g. a pusher) sothat the products are not prevented from sliding because they stick tothe substrate.

[0040] In FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of a second embodiment of theinvention is shown. The products 10 are supplied to the trim table,which comprises a number of operator, stands O1, O2, . . . O8. Theproducts 10 are delivered via a inlet conveyor 3 on a conveyor 2 fromwhich the products or portions of products 10 via sweepers 12 at eachoperator stand O1-O8 may be guided down to the operator on demand. Thetrays 14 in connection with the sweepers 12 are shaped with a funnelshape, so the products via the sweepers 12 are guided away from thesupply conveyor 2 and down into the trays. The products then slide viathe slopping sliding surfaces 18 down into the bottom of the funnelshaped tray which is essentially in level with the cutting plate 16, andfrom which the operator easily may take out a product for trimming. Oneach side of the tray 14, sorting openings 14 are arranged for thedifferent types of products that are cut out of the product or a portionof products. The products that are put into these openings are guidedonwards down on a conveyor 6 for further processing, such as packaging.The conveyor 6 is moreover connected to a weighing station 8 fordetermination of the weight of the individual portions. The types ofproducts in the individual openings are laid on the conveyor 6 in apredetermined order and opening means in connection with each of theopenings 20, which are controlled by a superior control system (notshown), ensure that the products from each of the operator stands O1 toO8 are positioned on the conveyor 6 in a well known order, so that thesubsequent sorting, e.g. for packaging or by product types, productweight, etc. may be carried out automatically and controlled by thesuperior control system.

[0041] At each side of the cutting plate 16 further sorting openings 20e are arranged, e.g. for the cut-away material, such as waste. Thematerial which is put into these sorting openings 20 e are guided via achute 20 f down on a conveyor 40 for discharge. The conveyor 40 ispreferably divided into sections by separation walls 41 and 42 beingarranged in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. Moreover,sidewalls 43 are preferably arranged on each side of the conveyor 40.The chutes 20 f are arranged in pairs at each operator stands and theyare preferably designed in such a way that the material from eachcutting plate 16 are guided down into different sections on the conveyor40.

[0042] In FIG. 5 a schematic cross-sectional view is shown, which showshow the conveyors 2, 6, 40 are arranged in relation to each other and inrelation to the operator stands of the trim table.

[0043] Each of the operator stands O1 to O8 are preferably provided witha platform, which may be adjusted in height relative to the cuttingplate 16. Moreover, a preferably height adjustable chair 46 may bearranged on the platform 44 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0044] In FIGS. 6a and 6 b a third embodiment is shown, where theautomatic transferral takes place by the tray 14, which acts as areceiving plate that may be tilted since the tray 14 at one end ishinged with a hinge 47 and which is supported by a telescopic actuator48, such as an electric actuator or a pneumatic actuatable cylinder. Asit may be seen in the FIGS. 6a and 6 b, the tray 14 is arrangedsubstantially in level with the supply conveyor 2 adjacent a sweeper 12,i.e. in a level above the cutting plate 16. The tray 14 is preferablyarranged next to or displaced from the cutting plate 16 so that aproduct 10, which is swept away from the conveyor 2 over to the tray 14by an operator activated inclination of the tray 14, slides down on thecutting table 16 for processing, such as shown in FIG. 6b. Thisembodiment makes the trim table particularly suitable for trimming oflarger meat products, e.g. in connection with portion cutting of pork orbeef.

[0045] In FIG. 7 is shown a fourth embodiment of a trim table accordingto the invention. According to this embodiment, the products 10 aredelivered on a rotatable cutting plate 24 which has a receiving section24R at the edge of the conveyor 2 adjacent a sweeper arm 12, a cuttingsection 24C and a sorting section 24S. The cutting plate 24 is rotatablysupported and may be rotated so that the products 10 which are deliveredat the receiving section 24R are transferred to the cutting position 24Cfor trimming. When the products 10 a, 10 b are trimmed and cut out, theyare sorted by placing the products in different radial positions on theplate 24 according to a classification, so that the product pieces inthe emptying/sorting position 24S are swept off the plate 24 by one ormore sorting ribs 26 that catches the sorted product pieces 10 a, 10 band guide them away from the plate and onwards for further processing.

[0046] In a variation of this embodiment, the sorting means comprise anumber of sorting openings 20 a, 20 b which are positioned in aconcentric hole 30 in the cutting plate 24, as shown in FIG. 8. In theseholes, the cut out product pieces are placed by the operator accordingto a classification of the product pieces 10 a, 10 b. Moreover, one ormore sorting ribs 26 may also be arranged according to this embodiment,such as shown in FIG. 5. Beside the cutting plate there may be arrangedmeans for waste collection also, so that the cut away remains from theproducts simply may be swept over the side edge of the plate and downinto the waste collection (not shown).

[0047] The cutting plate 24 is preferably shaped as a circular plate,which is provided with rotary drive means so that the operator simplyhas to give a signal in order to turn the products 10 on the plate 24for transferring the products 10 to the next operation at the trimtable. Alternatively or as a supplement means may preferably be arrangedfor an automatic stop by a pressure on the cutting plate 24, so that thecutting plate 24 does not move when work is being done on the plate.

[0048] By the invention, it is realised that the arrangement of theoperator stand according to the fourth embodiment of the invention maybe mirrored in its design with respect to the design shown in FIGS. 7and 8 in order to suit the operator stand to a left-handed operator.

[0049] In connection with the rotary cutting table 24, stationary knivesor saws may potentially be arranged, e.g. in connection with the sortingribs 26, so that the operator simply must orientate the products 10 onthe cutting plate 24, so that the products automatically are cut outwhen they are rotated against such cutting ribs (not shown).

[0050] A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.Here, the products are received on a displaceable cutting plate 28. Thisembodiment is particularly suited for trimming smaller product portionsand there are preferably arranged two adjacent cutting plates 28 at eachoperator stand.

[0051] Each cutting plate 28 is shiftably arranged for beingdisplaceable between a receiving position 28R immediately adjacent thearm 12 by the conveyor 2. When the operator is ready to process awaiting portion for trimming, the cutting plate 28 may possibly be movedforward to a forward cutting position 28C or the products may beprocessed with the cutting plate in the position 28R. When the products10 are processed, i.e. trimmed and cut out into product pieces 10 a, 10b, these pieces are sorted on the plate, whereafter the cutting plate 28is moved back to an emptying position 28S, where the plate 28 is pivotedor swept, so that the product pieces slide off the cutting plate 28 anddown on a conveyor 6 for transport to further processing, potentiallyvia an intermediate storage, so that the product pieces 10 a, 10 b areput on the outlet conveyor 6 in a predetermined manner. Between each ofthe cutting plates, collection magazines 20 c are preferably arrangedfor product remains, such as cut-away remains.

[0052] On the outlet conveyor 6, the production of product types fromeach of the operators is gathered, such as shown in FIG. 11. Asindicated, sub-portions of product pieces 10 a from O1, O2 to O8respectively and then sub-portions of the next type of product pieces 10b are arranged successively on the conveyor 6. Each sub-portion from theindividual operator is weight on the scale 8 (see FIG. 1) forsurveillance of the productivity of the trim table. Moreover, a qualitycontrol unit may be built into the control system so that selectedsub-portions are guided via quality control unit for inspection of e.g.the quality of the trimming and the portion cutting of the product.

[0053] By the invention, it is realised that a trim table with means forautomatic transfer of product portions to the cutting table may bearranged in other variant than the above described preferred embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is described inthe accompanying claims.

1. A trim table for use by trimming and/or cutting of food products,such as chicken or fish, comprising conveying means (2, 12) for feedingproducts to a number of operator stands (O1 . . . O8), each of whichcomprising means (14, 24R, 28R) for receiving products (10), a cuttingtable (16, 24C, 28C) for trimming and/or cutting the products (10) intoproduct pieces (10 a, 10 b) and means (6, 20) for sorting and furthertransport of the cut or trimmed products (10 a, 10 b), characterised inthat one or more of the operator stands (O1 . . . O8) are provided withmeans (18, 24, 28) for automatic transferral of the products (10) fromthe receiving means (14, 24R, 28R) to handling on the cutting table (16,24C, 28C).
 2. A trim table according to claim 1, wherein the receivingmeans are constituted by a tray (14) for reception and storage of aportion of products (10) and the means for transferral of the productscomprise a sliding surface (18), which connects the tray (14) with thecutting table (16).
 3. A trim table according to claim 2, wherein thetray (14) is arranged in a level above the cutting table (16) andwherein the sliding surface (18) is provided with an inclination towardsthe cutting table (16).
 4. A trim table according to claim 3, whereinthe tray (14) and/or the sliding surface (18) is/are provided withvibration means (22) and/or a push device.
 5. A trim table according toclaim 2 to 4, wherein the sorting means include a number of sortingopenings (20 a . . . 20 e) between the tray (14) and the cutting table(16) for categorisation of the trimmed product pieces (10 a, 10 b) andpreferably for dispatch of product remains, said openings (20 a . . . 20e) being connected with means (6; 20 f, 40) for further transport of theproduct pieces for further handling and/or dispatch of the productremains.
 6. A trim table according to claim 2 to 5, wherein the tray(14) is funnel shaped and provided with two inclined sliding surfaces(18), which guide the products (10) down to the bottom of thefunnel-shaped tray (14), said bottom being substantially in level withthe cutting table (16).
 7. A trim table according to claim 5, whereinmeans for collecting and delivery of the products from the sortingopenings (20 a . . . 20 e) to a conveyor (6) are arranged in associationwith the sorting openings (20 a . . . 20 e), said means for delivery arecontrolled according to the achievement of a predetermined sortingpattern on the conveyor (6).
 8. A trim table according to claim 5,wherein sorting openings (20 e) are arranged at at least one side of thecutting table (16) for receiving litter and with chutes (20 f) for theremoval of the product remains or the like.
 9. A trim table according toclaim 8, wherein an underlying conveyor (40) is provided with asectioning in longitudinal sections and where the chutes (20 f) inassociation with an operator stand are arranged for delivery of productremains and the like in different sections.
 10. A trim table accordingto claim 1, wherein the receiving means are constituted by a tray (14)for the receipt and storage of a product portion (10) and the means fortransfer of products comprise means for lowering the tray (14) to thelevel of the cutting table (16).
 11. A trim table according to claim 10,wherein the means for lowering the tray (14) are constituted by apivotable side-hinging of the tray (14) and a telescopic actuator, suchas a pneumatic actuatable cylinder (48) for pivoting the tray (14),whereby its surface constitutes a sliding surface.
 12. A trim tableaccording to claim 1, wherein the receiving means and the cutting tableis a rotatable receiving and cutting plate (24), which has a receivingposition (24R), a cutting position (24C) and a sorting position (24S)for the products (10, 10 a, 10 b), and wherein the means for transfercomprises rotation means for rotating the plate (24).
 13. A trim tableaccording to claim 12, wherein the cutting plate is a substantiallycircular cutting plate (24), which is rotatably arranged for rotation inthe direction from the receiving position (24R) towards the sortingposition (24S).
 14. A trim table according to claim 12 or 13, whereinthe sorting means (20) are provided with one or more stationary,essentially tangentially orientated sorting ribs (26) for sorting andfurther transport of the cut/trimmed product pieces (10 a, 10 b) forfurther handling by rotation of the plate (24).
 15. A trim tableaccording to claim 14, wherein the sorting ribs (26) are provided withstationary positioned cutting means, such as knives or saws forautomatic cutting of the products by rotation of the cutting plate (24).16. A trim table according to claim 12 to 14, wherein the cutting plate(24) is rotatably arranged and provided with a concentric opening, inwhich the sorting means, which comprise a number of sorting slots (20 a,20 b) are arranged.
 17. A trim table according to claim 12 to 16,wherein the sorting means comprise a number of sorting openings (20 a,20 b) between the conveying means (2, 12) and the cutting plate (24) forsorting the cut/trimmed product pieces, said openings (20 a, 20 b) beingconnected to means (6) for further transport of the product pieces (10a, 10 b) for further handling and/or removal of the product remains. 18.A trim table according to claim 12 to 17, wherein in association withthe cutting plate (24) means are arranged for automatic rotation stopwhen a pressure is applied to the cutting plate (24).
 19. A trim tableaccording to claim 1, wherein the receiving means and the cutting tableis a shiftable receiving and cutting plate (28), which is provided withone or more categorisation markings for sorting the cut/trimmed productsand which cooperates with means (6) for further transport of the productpieces for further handling, said cutting plate (28) being shiftablebetween a receiving and storage position (28R) and a retracted sortingand emptying position (28S), where the plate (28) is completely orpartly guided in below the conveyor means (2, 12).
 20. A trim tableaccording to claim 19, wherein the cutting plate (28) may be guided to aforward cutting position (28C) relative to the receiving position (28R)for processing the products.
 21. A trim table according to claim 19 or20, wherein the shiftable cutting plate (28) is substantiallyhorizontally orientated in the receiving, storage and cutting positions(28R, 28C) and pivoted for dispatching the cut products (10 a, 10 b)from the plate in the sorting and emptying position (28S).
 22. A trimtable according to claim 19 to 21, wherein two adjacent, shiftablecutting plates (28) are arranged at each operator stand.
 23. A trimtable according to claim 19 to 22, wherein the displacement of thecutting plate or plates is controlled by operator operated controlmeans, preferably in a predetermined pattern of movement.
 24. A trimtable according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyingmeans comprise a first conveyor (2) with a number of operator stands (O1. . . O8) on each side of the conveyor (2) and a second conveyor (6) forfurther transport of the product pieces (10 a, 10 b).
 25. A trim tableaccording to claim 24, wherein means (4, 8) for automatic weighing arearranged in connection with the inlet to the first conveyor (2) of thetrim table for weighing out the product portions (10) and/or inconnection with the second conveyor (6) for weighing out the cut productpieces (10 a, 10 b).
 26. A trim table according to any of the precedingclaims, wherein vacuum means are arranged in the cutting table (16, 24C,28C) for retaining the products during the trimming or cutting.
 27. Atrim table according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means fordetecting product characteristics by the products to be trimmed, such asdetecting bones or the like, are arranged in connection with the cuttingtable (16, 24C, 28C).
 28. A trim table according to claim 27, whereinthe detection means include detecting bones in meat products and thatmeans are arranged for returning the sorted products which stillcontains bones to the operator, such as by leaving a detected product onthe cutting plate (24) and rotating the product to the cutting position(24C).
 29. A trim table according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the cutting table comprises a cutting plate (16) which may beturned over or exchanged and means for detecting this.